IT was a sunny day in December 2010 - a day that was simultaneously one of the happiest and scariest days of my life. It was the day that I became a father.
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Someone once said to me that nothing can prepare you for the joy of being a parent, but equally nothing can quite prepare you for just how challenging it can be. And they were right.
From the moment we discovered that we were having our first child I was filled with excitement, apprehension and questions - lots of them.
I'd imagine most parents feel the same way. Questions such as, what kind of world do I want my daughter to grow up in?
Who will she grow up to be? What kind of father will I be?
I want my daughter to have the same choices and opportunities that I've had.
I want her to know what being valued feels like. I want her to know what respect looks like.
I want her to grow up in a society where she can live, work and play with the same confidence in her own personal safety that men have.
There is ample evidence that engaged fatherhood has a positive impact on girls and boys - and informs the relationships they will have as adults. Girls are more empowered and independent, while boys are more likely to develop lasting beliefs in the equality and value of women.
That's what I want for my daughter. If I can demonstrate this to her, by being a hands-on father and loving husband, then she will expect the same from the boys and men around her.
For me, being an engaged father means not just the "big stuff", but also the "little stuff".
Listening and being available to my daughter to discuss the joys and struggles in her life; engaging her around social norms - for instance we often talk about why the majority of famous scientists and other historical figures are men.
My daughter and I have a little morning routine - I ask: "What are we going to do today?" She always says: "Have fun and try our best."
I love our time together and hope that she grows up confident to assert herself in a world full of challenges and opportunities.
The lessons that we teach our children today help shape the person they become tomorrow.
A positive role-model in a child's life can have a long-lasting and positive influence, and that's a legacy that every father should aspire to.
Tony Pearson is chairman of White Ribbon